High chair bib



June 15, 1943. E. w. GIBSON HIGH CHAIR BIB Filed Nov. 14, 1959 INVENTOR.54 4/1 05 W 50M BY 2 ATTORNEY.

of the arms. mit the bib to sag from the arms of the chair Patented June15, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- HIGH CHAIR BIB Eleanor W. Gibson,Detroit, Application November 14, 1939, Serial No, 304,375

6 Claims.

The present invention pertains to a novel bib designed for use bychildren in the high chair. .It is well known that infants, whilefeeding at the high chair, often spill or drop food oil the tray, withthe result that such food drops into the lap of the infant or on thefloor. The usual bib that the infant may be wearing is merely in theform of an apron and is insufficient for the purpose described.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a high chairbib so constructed and supported that it retains any food that may bespilled and particularly keeps the food off the clothing. In theaccomplishment of this object, the bib is made in the form of an apronto cover the front of the body and is especially constructed to besuspended from the arms of the high chair and thereb to form a trough ora pocket to hold the spilled food. The bib can readily be removed fromthe body of the infant and from the arms of the chair while retainingthe spilled food and, if necessary, it can be thrown directly into thelaundry. The apron portion of the bib is preferably made with sleeves toprotect the arms of the infant.

More particularly, the means for attaching the bib to the. high chairarms is in the form of pockets shaped in the bib and receiving the endsThere is sufficient material to perinto the lap of the infant and at thesame time form a straight or taut edge from arm to arm, therebyproviding the trough mentioned above. For the conventional type of armchair, the pockets for the arms are formed by notching the material andsewing together the edges of the notch. The construction is slightlydifferent for the newer type of high chair which has a fully detachabletray formed with bottom grooves receivin the arms. In this constructionit would not be feasible to cover the chair arms with the bib material,and. hence the bib is attached to the under side of the arms by snapfasteners or other suitable means. In either case, the bib may be madeof oiled silk or any other waterproof and washable material.

The invention is fully disclosed by way of example in the followingdescription and in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an occupied high chair, showing thedevice in use;

Figure 2 is a rear view thereof;

Figure 3 is a plan view thereof;

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure v5 is a section on the line 55 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view at the forward end of one o hehair a m Figure '7 is an elevation of the devi e detached, the lowerportion being unassembled, and

Figure .8 is a cross section of the arm of a differen typ o hi hcha r.sho in a mo d orm ,of the invention in connection therewith.

Reference to these views will now be made by use of like characterswhich are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout.

In Figures 1, 2 and 3 is shown the chair portion I f a ,conyentionalhighchair, having a back 2, a pair of side arms 3, and a tray 4 hinged tothe back {and adapted to rest on the arms 3.

T e bib com ri n h b ec t e o th s invention comprises a bodice portion5 prefer a y form d the with a colla 5' and l e 6 for the arms of thewearer. The back 6' of the bodice may have vertical edges 1 that meet atthe back of the wearer and are secured together by any suitable meanssuch as safety pins 8, as

shown more clearly in Figure 2. From the bodice portion 5 extends anapron portion 9 extended in length and width beyond normal, ifnecessary, for the purpose that will presently be described.

The forward or lower corners of .the apron portion ,over thetops of thearms '3, as shown more clearly in Figures'3, 4, 5 and 6.

The distance between the pockets 10 at the forwardends-of thearms isequal tothe distance between the arms 3, with the result that thematerial is taut between the pockets and forms a straightedge 1.2. Aforward Wall [3 depending from the straight edge H, as shown in Figures3 and 4, results from the pocket structure presently to be described.Similarly, lateral walls I4 hang from the arms 3, whereby these wallsform a trough beneath the tray 4 and in front of the infant.

The pockets I0 may be formed in any suitable manner, one example beingshown in Figure 7, which shows the apron 9 unassembled. A notch I5 iscut in each of the forward or lower corners, and both vertical edges ofthe notch are swung over to the horizontal edge and stitched thereto.The seam is T-shaped as shown in Figure 6 and is preferably covered witha binding I6. The lower or forward edge portion of the bib is thusnarrowed by the closing of the notches, while the portion beyond remainsrelatively wider to form the trough l3, l4 when the pockets are fittedon the high chair arms.

In order to hold the bib in place and especially to hold the flaps I Ion the arms 3, a rear fastening means is employed. This may consist ofelastic tapes I! extended from the rear edges of the flaps H around theback 2 of the chair and joined by a suitable fastening element I8. Themembers I! may pass through loops IS on the upper edge of the apron toaid in supporting the latter, as shown more clearly in Figure 3.

The invention readily lends itself to modification for different stylesof high chairs. A different type of a chair is shown in Figure 8 and hasa completely removable tray grooved in the body at 2| toreceive the arms22. In this construction it would not be feasible to pass the bib overthe top of the arms 22. Accordingly, the forward pockets are dispensedwith and the lower surfaces of the arms 22 and lateral edges of theapron formed with cooperating fastening elements 23. The width of theapron may be reduced, if necessary, in View of the fact that it need notcover the arms. Thus, the apron is suspended from the arms to form atrough substantially similar to that previously described. It will alsobe understood that any suitable fastening means may be employed forattaching the apron to the arms 22, or to the usual standards thatsupport the arms.

It will now be evident that, in either embodiment of the invention, theclothing of the infant is fully protected from any food that may fallfrom the tray. Owing to the suspension of the side edges of the apronfrom the high chair arms, the food will fall into and be retained by thetrough, and no food can find its way out of the trough to the clothingof the infant. The bib can readily be removed from the infant and fromthe chair while retaining the spilled food, where- .upon the food can berinsed off at the water tap and the bib washed there or thrown into thelaundry.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been illustrated anddescribed, it will be understood that various alterations in the detailsof construction may be made without departapron into the form of atrough between said arms.

2. In a high chair bib, a bodice portion, an apron extending therefrom,said apron being provided along its lateral edges with pockets forattaching said edges along the side arms of a high chair, said apronhaving a straight edge between the forward ends of said pockets andbeing narrower at said straight edge than elsewhere between said lateraledges, whereby to shape said apron into the form of a trough between sad arms.

3. In a high chair bib, a bodice portion, an apron extending therefrom,said apron being provided along its lateral edges with means forattaching said edges along the side arms of a high chair, the width ofthe apron for an infant of given size being substantially greater,beyond its forward edge portion, than the distance between the arms of ahigh chair for an infant of that size, whereby to shape said apron intothe form of a trough between said arms.

4. In a high chair bib, a bodice portion, an

apron extendin therefrom, said apron being provided at its lateral edgeswith pockets for attaching said edges to the side arms of a high chair,the width of the apron for an infant of given size being substantiallygreater, beyond its forward edge portion, than the distance between thearms of a high chair for an infant of that size, whereby to shape saidapron into the form of a trough between said arms.

5 In combination with a high chair having side arms, a bib comprising abodice portion, an

,, apron extending therefrom, attaching means at the lateral edges ofsaid apron and adjacent the forward edge thereof, said means beingattached to said arms, and the width of said apron at the forward edgethereof between said means being substantially equal to the distancebetween said arms and the width of the apron rearwardly of said edgebeing of greater width than the distance between said arms, whereby saidapron is draped in trough formation between said arms.

6. In combination with a high chair having side arms, a bib comprising abodice portion, an apron extending therefrom, the lateral edges of saidapron being provided with pockets adjacent the forward edge thereof, thepockets receiving the forward ends of said arms, and the width of saidapron at the forward edge thereof between said pockets beingsubstantially equal to the distance between said arms and the width ofthe apron rearwardly of said edge being of greater width than thedistance between said arms, whereby said apron is draped in troughformation between said arms.

- ELEANOR W. GIBSON.

